The Inter-Fraternity Council kicked off formal rush last night, one day earlier than its traditional schedule, in an effort to increase participation and to allow for more adjustment time as students settle into their spring semester schedules.
The IFC decided to begin rush activities one day earlier in order to add an extra "no contact" day, IFC spokesperson Scott Cohen said.
"We added another day because it could increase participation," Cohen said. "It also gives everyone more time to get back into the swing of things."
IFC rush began with a consistently high number of registered rush participants.
"We've broken over 450, and that's pretty much on pace for what we had last year," he said.
Last night marked the first of three days of open house, which will be followed by three days of first, second and third invites, one day of final hours and bid day on Jan. 31.
"The IFC has worked hard to secure a successful rush and have made their rush regulations well-known to the University community," said Aaron Laushway, associate dean of students and director of fraternity and sorority life. "They are very serious about infractions and it is my hope that the 31 IFC fraternities participating in rush are successful in their recruitment efforts."
The IFC dropped two fraternities -- Sigma Alpha Mu and Alpha Delta Phi -- from affiliation with the IFC early last semester, leaving the number of active fraternities at 30.
The addition of the local fraternity Phi Society to the IFC's active roster brought the number of participating fraternities up to 31.
The IFC voted at its last meeting of the semester in December to grant full IFC membership to Phi Society, according to IFC President Ryan Ewalt.
Phi Society had been a probationary fraternity in the IFC with no voice or vote, but they were previously allowed to participate in rush, said fourth-year College student Tyler Dickinson, whose term as Phi Society president expired at the end of last semester.
Although Phi Society was not a fully sanctioned IFC fraternity, it abided by all IFC regulations, Dickinson said.
"Our rush status won't change significantly, but [the decision] solidifies our status in the IFC and indicates that we're a permanent fraternity here and we intend to remain strong for years to come," he said.
Alpha Delta Phi is currently in the process of regaining membership to the IFC. While it cannot conduct formal rush in sync with the IFC fraternities, Alpha Delta Phi can hold open house and recruit new members at a later time, Cohen said.
The local fraternity Eta Lodge falls outside IFC jurisdiction but is also holding an independent recruitment process, he said.
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